[tyme]

Who is a civilian, and who is not? (anyone have an OED around?) Police? Fire? Emergency medical workers? Anyone drawing a paycheck from any local/state/fed government?

"A person following the pursuits of civil life, especially one who is not an active member of the military or police."
- Heritage, 4th ed (dictionary.com/bartleby.com)
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=civilian

"one not on active duty in a military, police, or fire-fighting force"
- m-w.com, 20030125
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=civilian

"somebody who is an ordinary citizen rather than a member of the armed forces"
- encarta, world english dictionary 20030125
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?search=civilian

"any person not in military or naval service"
- Websters, 1966 college edition

"a person who is not a member of the police or the armed forces"
- cambridge international english dictionary
http://dictionary.cambridge.org

"a person who is not a member of the police, the armed forces, or a fire department"
- cambridge dictionary of american english
http://dictionary.cambridge.org

"someone who is not a member of a military organization or the police"
- cambridge learner's dictionary
http://dictionary.cambridge.org

[DeltaElite]

It's all sematics.
I don't care whatcha call me, just don't call me late to dinner. ;)

Definitions change over time, it appears the definition of civilian is changing also.
English the ever evolving language. :D

[4v50 Gary]

I've always felt it was anybody not in the military service. That includes police, fire, & EMT.

[DeltaElite]

Don't get me wrong Gary. I accept the old definition of a civilian being all non-military folks.
I do know that I am a citizen, with some secret powers that developed after the accident at the nuclear power plant. ;)

[Blackhawk]

But since we're all in the militia.... :rolleyes:

[Hkmp5sd]

A civilian is someone that has not served in the military. A citizen is someone that has.

[F4GIB]

As the dictionary definitions indicate the meaning has expanded in the last years of the 20th Century. Because of the post-1972 militarization of the American police force, the term is now properly to used to distinguish the general population from, as appropriate, the organized armed services (the military) and from the organized armed police (the police).

[Seeker]

A civilian is someone that has not served in the military. A citizen is someone that has. ...in Starship Troopers.

In real life a civilian is anyone not currently in the military.

[T.Stahl]

A civilian is a "non-combattant". E.g.:
- A soldier is not a civilian.
- If your coast guard has the status of a combattant, its service members aren't civilians.
- The German border police had the status of combattants for most of the time after WW2.
- Ordinary police aren't combattants, therefore they are civilians.
- Guerillas aren't civilians.

[JohnBT]

"A civilian is someone that has not served in the military. A citizen is someone that has."


Blatant nonsense.

A baby born in this country is a U.S. citizen. And that's just one example of your definition being wrong.

Do you make up your own definitions for other words too?

John

[Hkmp5sd]

JohnBT,

You may want to look up the word "facetious" and read the book Starship Troopers.

[chaim]

Ordinary police aren't combattants, therefore they are civilians. That would depend upon the locality I guess. In Israel both the border police (half army, half police in duties) and the regular police are basically combatants and thus not civilians. In most countries this isn't the case however.

[T.Stahl]

Chaim, yes, that depends. It's an example similar to the German border police.

[DeltaElite]

Ordinary police aren't combattants, therefore they are civilians.

ROFL.
If I am not a combatant, then why do people try to kill me and why do I have to be willing to use deadly force daily at work to protect myself? BTW, its a rhetorical question. ;)

I have the utmost respect for military members, but I face alot more risk than many military members that are considered "combatants".
Like the guy with the pry bar and the gun this morning, committing "just a burglary".

I don't care what you call me, I'm a citizen peace officer.
I know what I am and what I do for my country.
All this concern with whether I am a civilian or not is just plain silly to me.
Carry on. :D

[Hkmp5sd]

If I am not a combatant, then why do people try to kill me and why do I have to be willing to use deadly force daily at work to protect myself? BTW, its a rhetorical question.

But doesn't that also apply to us potential victims of violent crime? :)

[DeltaElite]

Sure if you want it to. ;)
Whatever makes you feel special. ;)

From now on, I want to be called a Smurf. :D

[444]

Just curious as to why you ask this question ?